Container opener



June 17, 1952 c. GAAsBEcK CONTAINER OPENER Filed May 18, 1950 PatentedJune 17, A1952 CONTAINER OPENER Y Cornelius Gaasbeck, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application May 18, 1950, Serial No. 162,710

7 Claims.

This invention relates to container openers, and the main object is theprovision of a useful, practica1 and simple implement having means -forpuncturing the tops of tin cans, means for lifting the lids off bottles,jars, and the like, and further having adjustable means whereby theimplement may be readily adapted to accommodate the size of the`container or cap to be Worked upon.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container opener soconstructed as to permit of removal of a bottle cap, jar lid or the likewithout damage to the cap or lid so that the same may be reapplied as aclosure.

The above broad as well as additional and more specific objects will beclarified in the following description, wherein characters of referencerefer to like-numbered parts in the accompanying drawing. It is to beunderstood that the drawing is intended solely for the purpose ofillustration, and that it is therefore neither desired nor intended tolimit the invention necessarily to any or all of the exact details ofconstruction except insofar as they may be deemed essential to theinvention.

f Referring briefly to the drawing, Fig. l is a perspective view of acontainer opener embodying the useful features of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line.2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the slidably adjustable gripping tongueof the implement, per se.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. K

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of a tin can, with parts brokenaway and partly in section, showing also in side elevation the tool ofthis invention applied thereto in the operation of puncturing the top ofthe can.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of a bottle, showing the toolin side elevation applied thereto in the operation of removing thebottle cap.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view of a jar, showing the tool inside elevation applied thereto in the operation of removing the lid.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral I indicates the tool orimplement of this invention, which comprises an elongated ilat bodyhaving an opening I2 on one end whereby it may be hung from a hook orthe like. The other end I3 of the body Il is deformed to extendgenerally downward therefrom at an angle thereto. The deformed end I3tapers to a nose I4. The base I of the end I3 extends at approximately45 degrees to the body II, and the intermediate portion I6 of the end I3lies at an angle of approximately degrees to the base I5, and the noseI4 at an angle of approximately 60 degrees to the body I I'. As aresult, the nose I4 is turned downward, with respect to the body I'I. ata greater angle than the base I5 of the end I3. The bight |`I betweenthe base I5 and the intermediate section I6 of the end I3. is rounded,at least to a small degree.

A central longitudinal slot I8 extends part way of the length of thebody I I from a point near the base of the end I3. A carriage I 9comprises a flat plate 20 whose width is greater than that of the slotI'8 and which may be equal to that of the body II. A rectangular block2| whose width is very slightly less than the Width of the slot I8 sothat it may register in the said slot, is formed integrally with theupper surface of the plate 20. A screw 22 passes upward through a hole23 in the plate 20 and an aligned hole 24 through the block 2| andprojects a distance above the latter. 'I'he carriage I 9 is slidablymounted on the body I I by registering the block 2| in the slot I8. Awing nut 25 engages the screw 22 to clamp the carriage I9 to the bodyI`| at any position along the slot I8, and a washer 26 is preferablyinterposed under the nut 25.

The forward end 21 of the plate 20 is deformed substantially as shown toprovide a grip 28 positioned below the plane of the plate 20 andapproximately parallel therewith.

In use, the carriage I9 is rst positioned along the slot I 8 toaccommodate the device to the size of container to be opened, in anobvious manner. When applied to puncture the top of a can, as shown inFig. 5, the grip 28 is engaged under the bead 29 of the can, whence aforceful anti-clockwise rotation of the implement about the edge of thegrip 28 causes the nose I4 to puncture the can.

When used to remove a bottle cap, as shown in Fig. 6, the grip 28 isengaged under the overhang of the cap 30. It is to be noted that thebight between the body II and the base I5 of the end I3 is well rounded,as shown at 3|. The carriage I 9 is here so positioned that the roundedbight 3|' engages the rim of the cap 30, so that on swinging theimplement in a counter-clockwise direction the forward end of the body II serves to support a substantial portion of the cap surface includingthat under the bight 3|. Thus, the cap is removed by the implementwithout damaging it so that it may be reapplied to the bottle as a seal.

In removing the lid 32 of a jar 33, as shown in Fig. 7, the grip 28 isagain engaged under the overhang of the lid, with the carriage i9 sopositioned on the body l I that the section I6 engages the opposite edgeof the rim of the lid. Thus, here also the engagement of the rim at thepoint opposite the grip 28 controls the lid so that when thecounter-clockwise movement of the implement removes the lid the latterremains undamaged so that itv may again be applied as a seal on the jar.

Obviously, modications in form or structure may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention.

I claim:

l. An implement of the class described comprising an elongated flat bodyhaving the forward end thereof deformed and; extendmg downward at anangle to the plane of the body, said` deformed end tapering toward itsextremity thereby providing a nose at the extremity of said deformedend, said body having a longitudinal slot therethrough extend-ingpartway' of the length of the body from apoint rearwardof .said deformedend, a carriage slidably mounted on said body and having a blockthereonregistering slidably in said slot,A rel'easable means for locking saidblock a-nd hence said carriage at any longitudinal position within therange o said slot, said carriage having an extension thereon extendingdownward from the plane of said body, said extension having thevextremity thereof extend-ing forward approximately parallel with saidplane.

The implement set forth in claim 1 said deformed end of said body beingrounded at the,

juncture thereof with said body;

3. The implement set forth in claim 1,l said deformedv end of said bodybeing' rounded at the juncture thereofwith said body; said deformed endcomprising in addition to said nose a base section and anA intermediatesection, said base section extending at approximately anl angle of 45degrees to said plane of the b,ody said intermediate section extendingat approximately an angle of 120 degrees to said base section, and saidnose extending at an angle of approximately degrees to said plane of thebody.

4. The implement set forth in claim 1, said means comprising a screwextending from said block through said slot and a nut on said screw toclamp said body between said carriage and said nut.

5. The implement set forth in claim 1, said means comprising a screwextending from said block through said slot upward from and at rightangles to said plane, a washer having a diameter greater than the widthof said slot positioned on said screw above said plane, and a nut onsaid screw above said washer to clamp said body between said carriageand said nut.

6'. A container opener comprising an elongated flat body having theforward end thereof deformed and extending downward at an angle to theplane of the body, said body having a longitudinal slot therethroughextending partwayof the length of the body from a point rearward of saiddeformed end, a carriage slidably mounted onv said body, said carriagecomprisingA a block registering slidably in said slot, a plate securedto the lower end of said block and having its upper surface in slidablecontact with the lower surface of said body, said plate having a widthgreater than the width of said slot and having an extension thereonextending downward from the plane thereof, said plate extension havingthe extremity thereof extending forward approximately parallel with theplanel of said body, said carriage having means for locking the same onsaid body at any longitudinal position Within the range of said slot.

'7. The device set forth in claim 6, saidmeans comprising a screwextendingupwardl from saidblock; and a nut on said screw to clamp said'body between said plateandsaid nut.

CORNELIUS' GAASBECKl Noy references cited'.

